I say franchise him too. 1. I worry that if he gets the big long term contract he might be one of those that gets soft. 2. See what you have in Hobbs. Is he a potential #1 corner, next year will be his 3rd and should give a good indication. 3. I am one who doesn't care if they get mad as long as they don't hold out.

This is a real tough one...It may ne that Samuel will be reasonable after this incredible season and..they will resign..BUT one never knows when dollar signs are IG!!! HOPING that it will be worked out..BUT after the Branch fiasco and totally misreading him..he could be gone!!

This has been talked about before. I dont like bringing up off season stuff until the middle of February, when our season is over

I still would like a complete breakdown on Asante's #'s over the last two years. I really dont have the time to do it myself, and Im lazy. Can anyone help here? Complete stats. #of pass plays in, # thrown at, # of defensed, # of pics, # of completions. YAC against, etc.

If he plays like a shutdown corner like Champ Bailey against stud Colts WRs Harrison or Wayne, the Pats may exert all efforts to resign him, such as, treating him like Brady and Seymour. At the very least, the Pats could franchise and trade him. KC would really want to get Samuel. Imagine Ty Law and Samuel as CBs. Peyton could be having nightmares. Go Pats.:rocker:

On Felger's online chat yesterday (in which, incidentally, he admitted that BB/SP had made clowns of the NE media, himself included, by winning again with a team "weakened" by their approach to FA and salary cap management) he said that Samuel wanted his money "in the worst way", implicitly suggesting he would be looking for top 5 corner money.

In those circumstances I think they should sign up Graham to a deal and slap the tag on Asante, and then look to offload him for a pick in 2008 or in a trade. That way they can keep him out of the division and get something out of it.

The Jests have all but said publicly that they plan to take Asante this year. Not that they're trying to tamper again or anything!

Like I said in my posts last night, The Pats will break it down like I wish someone here would do.....

They will then sign him to a top 5 kinda deal if he breaks down as a top 8 corner. Dont forget, Top 5 money isn't what it used to be with the funny money out there this year. He will stay for a same ballpark contract if the up front money is there. Why leave to obscurity for just a few dollars?

If he shakes out as a #9 to #16 corner, he's gonna get tagged, to get compensation and the team will have some control where he goes.

If he doesnt shake out in the top 16, the team will offer him an ok kinda deal and let him walk.

The problem with franchising him is that he might not and probably will not be happy about that...

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He might be unhappy, but in one year he would earn substantially more than he has earned during his entire lifetime, and he would be a free agent the next year. Besides, he can't afford to sit at home, this will be hist first big pay day, and any contract he gets in 2008 will be based on his play in 2007.

I think that the Patriots should put a non-exclusive franchise tag on him. With so few corners on the market, there might actually be a team out there that is willing to part with the TWO first round draft picks it would take to sign him. If not, we get him for one year for less than $8M.